Before the Ever Green (BTEG #1) ✔️

Chapter 36

7 hours.

7 long hours on a train, in between 4 walls, with 2 other people. Luckily Jaeger and Brit let me sit in a seat alone. But, this means they had to sit next to each other, which in tales arguing. I don't like watching the 2 of them argue, but I needed my space more than I needed the quiet.

The train stops with the same force as every other time. I go flying forward into the hard table. Then back. The intercom calls for Chico, and the 3 of us quickly get off. We walk off and down to the train station. Chico looks a lot like home. Just as beat up and barely functioning. Brit looks shocked by the new area we've made it to. Jaeger has no emotion on his face. None at all.

After about 10 minutes, the gate at the train station is opened, and we are set free into Chico. We are no longer caged in with the train. At this moment, I realize I am free. I am 100% free, and I can do what ever I want. I am not sure how I feel about it. I am not sure if I could stand to leave my Mom. Placerville. Everett. School. There are so many things I don't want to leave, but there are so many more, I do. My mind can't think about this right now, so I push it away, and think about the task at hand.

Allison Gold.

That is what our 'mission' is. That is why we are in Chico. Because, Allison Gold might just know something about Jaeger and Brit. She might be able to help me understand who I am. And, she might be one of the last things connecting to my father. I mean, yes, now I have a grandfather, but my grandmother is dead. All my hope right know, the hope that connects me to my magical self, it is all revolving around the possibility that and Allison Gold still lives in this town. That Allison Gold is still alive.

So... I hope.

"What's the address?" I ask, turning to Jaeger, who is searching through his bag. He pulls out a piece of white paper. 234 Alden court. "Let's go."

We are walking through the streets of Chico, looking for some sign of an Alden Court, but it seems like an old address. Everything has been converted. None of these houses look livable. It is like everyone here has a different home. Like no one lives in these rotted houses from hundreds of years ago. Why? Had the war hit Chico that bad? As bad as Los Angeles and San Francisco? How? Chico seems so little in comparison.

"It looks so empty." Brit comments.

I share my thoughts, "Just like the big cities."

"After the war." Jaeger says, "Everything was pretty much destroyed up there."

"Yeah. Almost no trees were left in the east." I tell Brit

"Oh." Is all she can get out. I don't blame her at all. I mean, she really didn't know much about the war. I don't know much about the war, either. I just know what they want us to know. And, they don't want us to know everything, or even close to everything. Why would they? If we knew, we could take over, and understand what has destroyed the nations and what kept then alive, before.

"Over there!" Brit calls, pointing to a sign reading Alden Court.

"Great Job, Brit!" Jaeger exclaims, patting his sister on the back.

"I'm a genius." She bows, and we all laugh.

"Come on," I call, running to the street. They follow closely behind. 234. 234. Where is 234? I am running down the street looking. Looking. There is no 234. I have to take a chance with the one numberless house. I am telling myself this, because I need to know about who I am. She, Allison Gold, might be the last person in the family that can help me. I have to try. I walk up the 2 stairs, which lead right to the front porch. The un-numbered house is yellow, with a white door. There is no flowers or plants outside. None that are alive, anyway. They are all dried up. But, this is the only house that looks like anyone has lived in it on 100 years.

I knock, one...two...three.

I step back.

Brit grabs my arm. Jaeger goes to the left of me. I look from Brit to Jaeger, and give a slight nod. I hear the creaking of footsteps. I hear the handle turn. It opens to a woman with the same black hair as Brit and Jaeger. "Hello?" She asks. She is short, and has few wrinkles. She looks about 45 years old, but she is probably older.

"Mrs. Gold?" I finally get the courage to ask.

She nods, "Yes. How do you know that?"

I clear my throat. She is staring at me immensely, "My name is Addilyn Ember." her expression changes. "This is Jaeger and Brit Lawson."
"Why are you here?" Her voice is cold
"We need, want your help."
"How can I help you?"
"May we please com in. It will be easier."
It takes her moments of looking us down, before she opens the door enough for us to come in. "Why are you really here? I don't think it's because you want my help. I think it's something else."
"No. We need your help to understand who we are." I explain.
"You are my sisters grandchildren." She says blatantly.
"Do you have powers?" I ask, bluntly. I don't have time for this.
She inhales slowly, "Yes."
"Help them to understand there power, then. Please."
"Why don't you want me to help you?" She's curious.
"Both my parents have powers. I'm not like you...not exactly."
"Oh." She seems interested. Like she knows something, and her attitude totally changes, "Glad to help." She's looking me up and down, and then turn her body towards Brit and Jaeger, still looking at me. Then, she turns her head. "Well, what do you know so far?"
"We can change into things." Jaeger says
"So you really know...nothing."
"I'm sorry?" Jaeger asks
"There is so much more to your power than changing into things. You can blend into a surrounding. You can be a useful weapon, by becoming a computer with all the answer. And, you don't even have to change physical form. You may need to be fast...don't turn into a cheetah, turn into the cheetahs mind and makeup inside your body. Inside your own 4 limbs."
"I can do that?" Brit asks
"No. We can do that." Allison counters. She is smiling. She knows something.